In "Speak, Memory," Vladimir Nabokov expresses a profound sense of nostalgia for his homeland and childhood. He describes his longing as unique, emphasizing how this deep yearning shapes his identity and perspective. This sentiment illustrates the universal experience of missing one's roots, which is intensified by the passage of time and the loss of innocence.

Nabokov's reflections highlight the complexities of memory and how the past can become idealized in one's mind. The phrase "hypertrophy of longing" suggests an overwhelming and almost obsessive desire to revisit a lost time and place, revealing how nostalgia can influence both personal connections and creative expression.